Snap-fit cleats for footwear

Abstract

A cleat for use in a resilient flexible ground engaging portion of an article of footwear or an attachment for an article of footwear to provide resistance to slippage. The web of resilient material has an inner side and an outer side, and an aperture extending therethrough for receiving portions of the cleat assembly. The cleat assembly includes a base member, a projection member, and an optional cover member. The base member is an annular ring having a central opening and is arranged to be located within the opening in the web of resilient material. The projection member has a hub having an outer surface, from which a spike projects, and a flange projecting radially outward from the hub. The flange includes a peripheral bead. The projection member of the cleat assembly includes plural posts and the base member of that assembly includes plural lugs defining plural recesses therebetween. The hub includes plural longitudinally extending, spring fingers, each having an undercut free end which is arranged to be extended through the aperture in the web of resilient material and through the central opening in the base member to snap-connect to a respective portion of the base member. This action tightly holds portions of the web of resilient material contiguous with the aperture between the annular bead on flange and the base member and with the posts and the recess cooperating for intimately engaging the resilient material of the web to prevent displacement or loosening of the cleat assembly from the web of resilient material. The cap is arranged to be releasably snap connected to the projection member to cover the spike, when desired.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cleat for mounting to a resilient flexible ground engaging portion of an article of footwear or an attachment for an article of footwear to provide resistance to slippage, the web of resilient material having an inner side and an outer side, and an aperture extending therethrough for receiving portions of said cleat assembly, said cleat assembly comprising a base member and a projection member, said base member being an annular ring having a central opening therein and being arranged to be disposed on the web of material so that at least a portion of said base member is located within the aperture in the web of material, said projection member comprising a hub having a central longitudinal axis and a peripheral flange extending outward from said hub, said hub including a portion arranged to be extended through the aperture in the web of material and through said central opening in said base member for non-threadedly snap-connecting to portions of said base member contiguous with said central opening, whereupon portions of the web of material contiguous with the aperture are tightly held between said flange and said base member. 
     
     
       2. The cleat assembly of claim 1 wherein said projection member comprises a outer surface and a spike extending outward from said outer surface. 
     
     
       3. The cleat assembly of claim 1 wherein said hub comprises at least one extending finger having a free end arranged to engage a surface portion of said base member contiguous with said central opening in said base member. 
     
     
       4. The cleat assembly of claim 3 wherein said free end of said at least one finger includes an undercut portion arranged to snap-connect to said surface portion of said base member contiguous with said central opening in said base member. 
     
     
       5. The cleat assembly of claim 1 additionally comprising plural posts projecting from said flange for intimate engagement with the web of resilient material of the attachment device when said cleat assembly is secured thereto. 
     
     
       6. The cleat assembly of claim 1 wherein said flange includes an annular bead extending about the periphery thereof for intimate engagement with the web of resilient material of the attachment device when said cleat assembly is secured thereto. 
     
     
       7. The cleat assembly of claim 6 additionally comprising plural posts projecting from said annular bead of said flange for intimate engagement with the web of resilient material of the attachment device when said cleat assembly is secured thereto. 
     
     
       8. The cleat assembly of claim 1 wherein said base member includes plural lugs projecting therefrom to define plural recesses therebetween into which portions of the web of resilient material of the attachment device is located when said cleat assembly is secured thereto. 
     
     
       9. The cleat assembly of claim 8 additionally comprising plural posts projecting from said flange, each of said posts being arranged for intimate engagement with a respective portion of the web of resilient material of the attachment device located within said recesses of said base member when said cleat assembly is secured thereto. 
     
     
       10. The cleat assembly of claim 8 wherein said flange includes an annular bead extending about the periphery thereof for intimate engagement with the web of resilient material of the attachment device when said cleat assembly is secured thereto. 
     
     
       11. The cleat assembly of claim 10 additionally comprising plural posts projecting from said annular bead, each of said posts being arranged for intimate engagement with a respective portion of the web of resilient material of the attachment device located within said recesses of said base member when said cleat assembly is secured thereto. 
     
     
       12. The cleat assembly of claim 1 additionally comprising a cover member arranged to be releasably mounted on said projection member. 
     
     
       13. The cleat assembly of claim 12 wherein said cover member includes at least one finger extending therefrom, and wherein said projection member includes at least one aperture therein for receipt of said at least one finger of said cover member to releasably secure said cover member to said projection member. 
     
     
       14. The cleat assembly of claim 13 wherein said cover member comprises plural fingers extending therefrom, each of said fingers having an undercut free end, and wherein said projection member comprises plural apertures extending through said flange about the periphery of said hub for receipt of respective ones of said plural fingers to releasably secure said cover member to said projection member. 
     
     
       15. The cleat assembly of claim 1 wherein said base member and said projection member are each formed of a plastic material. 
     
     
       16. The cleat assembly of claim 12 wherein said cover member is formed of a plastic material. 
     
     
       17. The cleat assembly of claim 15 and wherein said cover member is formed of a plastic material.